19
Kara
My timewith the girls is over for the night and I’m just about to say goodbye when my phone dings with a text message from Joey.
Any chance you can come to the bar? I think it would be good for Silas if you did.
I stare at the phone, confusion racing through my head.
“What’s wrong?” Lana asks, which gets Heather’s attention.
“Everything okay?” Heather stops what she’s doing and takes a step toward me.
I nod. “Yeah. Just got a weird text. Not sure what’s going on.” I change my tone so I don’t worry them. “I’m sure everything is fine.” I kneel down to give both girls hugs. “See you guys tomorrow.”
“Bye!” Lana says, full of joy.
“See you tomorrow,” Katy follows with the sweetest voice.
I wave to Heather. “Bye.”
“Have a good night,” she responds.
Once I’m out to my car, I reach for my phone and read over Joey’s words again. I haven’t spoken to Silas today, but I was so busy this morning, getting ready for my show tomorrow night, that I didn’t really even think about it. This has me worried though.
Everything OK?
Yeah. Just a rough morning. I think him seeing you would help.
I’m on my way. Thanks for reaching out.
Just glad I had your number.
I stare at his response.How bad could this be?
I drive straight to the bar as nerves race through my stomach. I know being a firefighter/paramedic has some hard aspects to the job, but I guess I’ve never fully understood what these people go through and how difficult it can be on their lives.
When I get there, the mood is nothing like I’ve seen in the past. The once-lively bar is quiet and almost depressing. Even though music is playing, there’s no one dancing, and barely anyone is even talking.
All the guys are at the bar, so I head toward them, seeing if I can pick out where Silas is hiding.
Hollywood spots me first and nods his head to me in greeting, then motions to where Silas is sitting.
I mouth,Thank you, to which he holds up his beer in acknowledgment.
The girl he has his arms wrapped around turns to see who I am, then gives me a somber expression. She tries to give mea smile that I can tell she wants to be genuine, but there’s too much sadness surrounding her.
I suddenly find myself in a situation where I have no idea what to do.
Whatever happened must have been really bad, and I’m not sure how I should act in this instance.
Silas and I have gotten close over the past few weeks, but that’s the issue. It’s only been a short amount of time. How much do I really know this man? I don’t know how to support him through something like this. Especially when I don’t even know what really happened.
I peek around some of the guys, who part when they see me coming, giving me access to where Silas is sitting at the bar by himself with his head slightly bowed down, staring at the beer bottle he’s holding.
Resorting to the only thing I do know how to do, which is cheer up kids when they are down, I decide to play with him by bringing him back to the night we met with Lee Brice’s song “One of Them Girls.” When I remember how the music video is actually about a woman firefighter, I pause and smile up at heaven, knowing everything that has happened between me and this man has been for a reason, which led us exactly to where we are right now and me being the one to come help him through whatever is going on in his head.
I sing to him as I come up behind him, wrapping my arms around his body while I slow the song down. “Are you one of those guys who peels off the Bud Light label?”
